Instrumental Division Faculty

 

 

     Originally from Bayshore, New York, Dr. James J. Smisek serves as the Director of Bands and Interim Chairman of Instrumental Studies at Samford University.  He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a D.M.A. in instrumental conducting, studying with Dr. John R. Locke.  While at UNCG he served as the conductor of the UNCG Symphonic Band 2004-2005 and previously conducted the University Band (2003-2004).  Dr. Smisek has taught high school band and orchestra for 13 years in the public schools of Bradenton, Palmetto, Winter Park, and Orlando, Florida.  He was also the director of jazz studies at Seminole Community College from 2000-2001.  He continues to work as an adjucator and clinician throughout Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, Virginia, South Carolina and Kentucky.  In 2000, he completed the M.M. degree in music education with honors at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.  He earned a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Florida in Gainesville and an A.A. from Seminole Community College in Sanford, Florida.  Dr. Smisek was a trumpeter in the United States Army Band Program from 1989-1991.  He is a member of Music Educators National Conference, College Music Society, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Alabama Music Educators Association, National Band Association, International Association for Jazz Education, College Band Directors National Association, Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.  Dr. Smisek is married to Lynette Aileen Smisek; they have two children, Chelsea and Carson.

 

Grant Dalton is the Instructor of Percussion Studies at Samford University where he directs the Samford Percussion Ensemble and Samford Steel, the university's steel drum band. He is also the Assistant Athletic Band Director and teaches several academic courses. He is an extra percussionist with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and he is the percussionist for the Birmingham Broadway Series and Broadway Across America. Before moving to Alabama he regularly performed with the Springfield (OH) Symphony, the Westerville (OH) Symphony, and the Dayton Philharmonic. He is a graduate of Lipscomb University, where he earned the degree Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education, and of The Ohio State University, where he earned the degrees Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in percussion performance. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, the College Music Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda. He is the vice-president of the Alabama chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, and regularly hosts the Alabama Day of Percussion. Dr. Dalton is also an endorser of Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets. His wife, Jennifer, is an English teacher at Vestavia Hills High School, and they have one son, Beckett. In his free time he enjoys traveling with his family and golfing.

 

Lisa Wienhold Bartlett, flute                            

Brian Doyle, double bass                   

Jay Evans, trombone  

Les Fillmer, orchestra 

Angela Flaniken, viola                  

Jeff Flaniken, violin                           

Judith Sullivan Hicks, harp             

Kevin Kozak, horn                                              

Angel Negrin, saxophone                                                     

Patricia Pilon, cello

Rebecca Remley, flute

Scott Robertson, tuba/euphonium

Ann Sargent, clarinet

Brad Sargent, trumpet/jazz

Karlo Senasi, guitar

Jack Sharp, bassoon

James J. Smisek, conducting

James Sullivan, oboe